As a leading multi-disciplinary set we are committed to providing you with expert advocacy and quality advice.

We take pride in our profession and we work to maintain its highest standards of integrity. Our goal is to work with you to ensure your cases are handled with the utmost care and professionalism to a high standard. Together, we will find the right solution for your needs.

Please call 020 7353 6802 to speak to one of our clerks who will be happy to help you.

Dr Charlotte Proudman

Call: 2010

“Charlotte is always a pleasure to instruct and liked by clients. She is brilliant at analysing the case, advising on all of the issues, and managing cases. She has great attention to detail and is a tough but realistic negotiator. Definitely counsel that you would want in your corner.”

Tish Reel, Solicitor, Owen White & Catlin LLP.

“Charlotte is the ‘go to’ barrister for international child abduction. A fearless advocate with exceptional drafting and advocacy skills, she always gets excellent results.”

Ms Aleksandra Kowalik, Solicitor, Kancelaria Kowalik.

“Charlotte is excellent in providing a considered and effective approach in progressing matters she is instructed upon. She is approachable in discussions with those instructing her as well as communicating well with clients.”

Mandeep Randhawa, Solicitor, Veja & Co Solicitors.

“Charlotte is an excellent advocate. She relates very well with the clients, pays great attention to detail and has excellent representation skills. I would highly recommend her for all manner of cases - simple and complex!”

Peter Hakizimana, Solicitor, PN Legal Services.

“Charlotte is meticulous with her preparation and case strategy which vastly improves the chances of securing a desired outcome. She is also very good in establishing a strong rapport with her clients.”

Charlotte is an established barrister in family law and public law. Renowned for her powerful advocacy, meticulous preparation and exceptional client care skills, Charlotte is the “go-to” barrister’ as she always secures outstanding results.

Combining legal practice with academic research Charlotte is an Affiliated Researcher at the Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge, from which she was awarded her PhD on the law and policy on female genital mutilation (FGM) in England. Charlotte was a former Visiting Researcher at Harvard Law School where she studied feminist legal theory.

Recognising the potential and challenges of the law promoting gender-equality, Charlotte is often invited to speak and write about gender-based legal reforms in areas such as FGM, forced marriage, prostitution, rape and quotas for women.

References

“Charlotte is insightful and tenacious, a strong advocate with skills that surpass her call. Her written work is excellent and her judgment is sound. She is a personable barrister that combines real ability with enthusiasm for her work.” Teresa Barnett, Solicitor, McMillan William Solicitors Limited.

“Charlotte picked up the reigns of a divorce case at very short notice and achieved a brilliant result, leaving the client ecstatically happy.” Nigel Fisher, Solicitor, Taylor Rose TTKW.

“Charlotte has excellent knowledge in the area of female genital mutilation law. She demonstrates commitment to and passion for this area of work. I have been most impressed by her professionalism and swift response especially with pro bono cases that are often at very short notice. On behalf of the families that Charlotte has supported and is continuing to support, I would like to send her our sincere gratitude.” National FGM Centre.

“Charlotte is great to work with, and both reliable and efficient. Clients report that she is calm and able to explain complex matters “in plain English”, which on a day at court with all its pressures is much appreciated. Her advocacy and negotiation skills are very effective. Clients give great feedback about Charlotte. What more could you ask for?” Karen Agnew-Griffith, Solicitor, Woolley & Co Solicitors.

“Charlotte is a strong and skilful advocate who works tirelessly for her clients. I have been impressed with the excellent quality of her work. I recently instructed Charlotte on a child abduction matter. She worked extremely hard and was instrumental in achieving an excellent outcome for our client including costs. I would highly recommend her.” Nathalie El-Korashy, Solicitor, Quality Solicitors Harris Waters.

“Charlotte is always a pleasure to instruct and is liked by clients. She is brilliant at analysing the case, advising on all of the issues, and managing cases. She has great attention to detail and is a tough but realistic negotiator. Definitely counsel that you would want in your corner.” Tish Reel, Solicitor, Owen White & Catlin LLP.

“Charlotte is a conscientious and hardworking barrister who always strives to get the best results for her clients.” Sally Goldman, Solicitor, Miramar Legal.

“Charlotte is a rising star at the Bar. She is sought after counsel in honour-based violence and female genital mutilation cases due to her strong grasp of the law and the issues women experience. Charlotte recently obtained indefinite leave to remain for a spouse with insecure immigration status who was subject to domestic violence despite the Home Office refusing the claim and judicial review proceedings having commenced.” Adeniyi Adewoye, Solicitor, Prime Solicitors.

“Charlotte is excellent in providing a considered and effective approach in progressing matters she is instructed in. She is approachable in discussions with those instructing her as well as communicating well with clients.” Mandeep Randhawa, Solicitor, Veja & Co Solicitors.

“Charlotte is an excellent advocate. She pays great attention to detail and has excellent representation skills. I would highly recommend her for all manner of cases, particularly those of a complex nature!” Peter Hakizimana, Solicitor, PN Legal Services.

“Charlotte is a tenacious advocate with an eye for detail and has outstanding client care skills, particularly when working with vulnerable clients.” Sellathurai Birunthaban, Solicitor, Biruntha Solicitors.

“I found Charlotte very experienced with acute awareness of my situation and focused with attention to detail. Charlotte is direct, tough but fair in negotiation.” Direct access client in a financial remedy case.

“Charlotte is meticulous in her preparation and case strategy, which vastly improves the chances of securing a desired outcome. She is also very good in establishing a strong rapport with her clients.” Direct access client in a financial remedy case and private law children case.

Family Barrister

With a PhD in FGM law, Charlotte is often instructed to represent local authorities, parents and children in FGM cases where there is complex medical evidence, risk assessments and country guidance. In cases where there is an overlap with immigration law, Charlotte is the ideal barrister to instruct given her expertise in both areas. As a member of the Bar Human Rights Committee Working Group on FGM, Charlotte co-authored a report submitted to the Home Affairs Committee 2014 – 2015 recommending 11 legislative and policy changes of which the government introduced two, FGM Protection Orders and the National FGM Centre.

Charlotte specialises in child abduction involving Hague and non-Hague Convention countries. She has appeared in the following reported cases: S v S [2017] EWHC 1298 (Fam) involving a fact-finding about allegations of grave harm to the mother and the child and evidence from experts in Iranian family law; and Re: Rodwell[2016] EWHC 1731 (Fam), which centred on questions about whether the court had jurisdiction to make orders concerning the family. Charlotte has obtained costs orders in child abduction cases including a recent costs order of £7,000.

Family finance: Charlotte represents clients who are husbands, wives or intervenors in high value financial relief matters following divorce and separation; pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements; property and financial trusts; secret trusts; and Islamic divorce and dowry. Equipped with skills that include forensic examination of financial disclosure, tenacious negotiation and razor-sharp advocacy, Charlotte is sought after counsel.

Public law children: Acting for local authorities, parents, and children, Charlotte receives instructions in all areas of public law children proceedings, as well as cases involving non-accidental injury; international and national adoptions; and those under the inherent jurisdiction involving the right to life or medical treatment for children.

Private law children: Charlotte has a wealth of experience representing parents, children and intervenors in private law children disputes involving protracted fact-finding hearings and final hearings where there are allegations of physical and sexual abuse and medical evidence.

Court of protection: Charlotte accepts instructions in court of protection cases involving people lacking the capacity to make decisions on health and welfare issues. She welcomes instructions from local authorities, health care trusts, the official solicitor, other litigation friends acting for protected persons and family and friends. Cases often involve vulnerable adults, including elderly persons suffering from degenerative diseases, young people with mental health difficulties, urgent and non-urgent medical treatment and withheld consent.

Publications

Editor of the peer-reviewed academic journal, Dignity: A Journal on Sexual Exploitation and Violence.

Dias QC, D., and Proudman, C. (2015), “International Human Rights Law and FGM,” Report to the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, Towards a better investment in the rights of the child.

Notable Cases

S v S [2017]EWHC 1298 (Fam). Charlotte represented the applicant father who sought an order for the immediate return of the child to Iran following the child’s abduction by the respondent mother to England. The issue was whether the father’s undertakings (promises to the court) to ensure the safe return of the mother and the child to Iran would be enforceable in an Iranian court of law. Two Iranian legal experts were instructed to give evidence. An extensive fact-finding hearing took place dealing with allegations of physical and sexual abuse.

Re: Rodwell [2016] EWHC 1731 (Fam). Charlotte represented the applicant father who sought the return of the children to Spain. The mother and children’s whereabouts were unknown, which raised questions about whether the court had jurisdiction to make orders concerning the family.

A Local Authority v a Mother, a Father and an Aunt[2012] EWHC 1637 (Fam).Junior counsel representing the aunt in public law children proceedings; the aunt obtained a placement order and was awarded costs against the local authority.

Immigration Barrister

Charlotte is a rising star in human rights, public law and immigration law. Charlotte is instructed in complex judicial review cases in asylum cases, Article 8 and ILR as a victim of spousal violence. There are often overlaps with family law, which Charlotte is equipped to deal with given her experience in family law and immigration law. With extensive experience in violence against women and girls internationally, Charlotte’s specialist areas are FGM, honour-based violence and trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Charlotte’s exceptional drafting, client care and advocacy skills ensures she obtains successful results.